Annette (Cannes Edition) (Soundtrack) vinyl

Sparks have always been a hugely theatrical and decidedly camp experience, so it wasn't really a surprise to learn the brothers Russell and Ron Mael were working on a musical extravaganza with Leos Carax, the French movie director who shot to fame in the mid-1980s with Boy Meets Girl. Telling the story of a provocative stand up comedian and his wife, based on this score it's certainly going to wear its heart on the sleeve. But then again, this is musical theatre.

As for the soundtrack itself, you're pulled into the narrative before you even realise it thanks to the prescriptive lyrics that literally say what's happening on screen for much of the time. It's operatic, grandiose, and incredibly dramatic, spanning classic balladry and more contemporary electronically-informed takes on the musical tune blueprint. Weird, but hugely entertaining.